Yarn transfer method in the windup operation

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for continuously winding yarn on a succession of bobbins. The apparatus has a travelling yarn guide mounted on a flexible member such as a chain or belt extending in a loop. The flexible member is driven in one or the other directions around the path of the loop. This crosses the path of the yarn coming from a yarn source and extending to a transversing guide for guiding yarn back and forth across the bobbin. The path of the flexible member also crosses the adjacent ends of the bobbin which have yarn catching means thereon. As the travelling guide moves along the path of the flexible member, it picks up the yarn and moves it so that it moves past the end of an empty bobbin and when the bobbin rotates, it picks up the thus moved yarn.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Shingo Hagihara;

Akio Ando; Akemi Higashimoto; Katsumi Hasegawa. Shiga-ken, Japan 21 JAppl. No. 740,804 [22] Filed May 24, 1968 [45] Patented Feb. 9, 1971[73] Assignee Toyo Rayon Kabushiki Kaisha Chuo-ku, Tokyo, JapanContinuation-impart of application Ser. No. 427,739, Jan. 25, 1965.

[54] YARN TRANSFER METHOD IN THE WINDUP OPERATION 10 Claims, 22 DrawingFigs.

[52] US. Cl 242/18 [51] Int. Cl B65h 54/02 [50] Field ofSearch 242/18A,18,18DD, 25A, l9;57/34, 157

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,822,0l8 9/1931 Deile242/18(A)UX 2,296,339 9/1942 Daniels 242/18(A)UX Primary ExaminerStanleyN. Gilreath Attorney-Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack ABSTRACT: A method andapparatus for continuously winding yarn on a succession of bobbins. Theapparatus has a travelling yarn guide mounted on a flexible member suchas a chain or belt extending in a loop. The flexible member is driven inone or the other directions around the path of the loop. This crossesthe path of the yarn coming from a yarn source and extending to atransversing guide for guiding yarn back and forth across the bobbin.The path of the flexible member also crosses the adjacent ends of thebobbin which have yarn catching means thereon. As the travelling guidemoves along the path of the flexible member, it picks up the yarn andmoves it so that it moves past the end of an empty bobbin and when thebobbin rotates, it picks up the thus moved yarn.

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I SHEEI 5 OF 8 .Fig/M U Fly/#3" I INVENTOR 5 BY M, MM ATTORNEYfiPATENTEU FEB 9I97l SHEET 6 BF 8 INVENTOR 5 M+ ATTORNEYS PATENTED FEE emSHEET 8 BF 8 I 1 PM H HHH H m wm wwwmwwmmwwwm :1!IWHHW I I MHIHHUHHMHHHIHIlllII m m l w mm ow M Dw A MM N HE R w 0m 2. G U EM NDFMEB m WKKMSAA 4 5 6 3 3 M A w a M Ji 5 BY FIG |6 ATTORNEYS YARN TRANSFER METHOD INTHE WINDUP OPERATION This application is a continuation-in-part ofapplication Ser. No. 427,739, filed Jan. 25, 1965, now abandoned.

This invention reiates to a yarn transfer method carried out in thewindup operation and to an apparatus therefor. More particularly, theinvention relates to a yarn transfer method and apparatus thereforwherein the continuous windup of yarn is made possible by transferringthe yarn from a full wound bobbin to an empty bobbin withoutinterruption and moreover without waste of yarn.

With the increase in the production of textile fibers in recent years,the spinning and windup speeds of fibers are becoming increasinglyhigher, the speeds reaching as high as, say, 1000 to 2000 meters perminute. As a result, the opera tions incident to the windup of the yarn,particularly the yarn transfer operation, has encountered variousdifficulties.

The operation of transferring the yarn from a full wound bobbin to afresh empty bobbin in the operation of winding up onto a bobbin atextile fiber delivered continuously from the spinning operation washitherto principally done manually. In performing this operation, thewindup operation had to be interrupted. In addition, not only was thetime required for the interruption of considerable length, but alsoconsiderable waste of yarn occurred during the transfer operation.Further, since the transfer was handled individually by the workers, theamount wound varied for each spindle, and the manner in which theoperation itself was carried out differed greatly, depending upon theskill of the worker. Further, even when the windup operation was interr'ed, there was some danger involved in carrying out the yarn transferoperation in a winder operated at such high speeds as previously noted.

In recent years, although studies have been made for finding a method ofcontinuously winding up the yarn being y, from spinning operations andthe like, no good continuous windup method has as yet appeared. This isascribable to fact that yarn transfer operation during the exchange ofthe bobbins is a highly complicated operation.

For instance, the operation in which the yarn is wound up on a bobbinand then, when the bobbin has become full, the yarn is transferred to anew bobbin encounters the difficulty that the yarn package becomesinferior. Further, it frequently occurs that either the yarn gets woundup on the drive roll instead of being wound up as desired on the newwindup bobbin, or the yarn transferred to the new bobbin is nottraversed as it should be, or a long period of time is required for theyarn to return to its normal traversing actions after the transferoperation. And these undesirable tendencies become worse as the windupspeed becomes higher.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method by which thetransfer of a yarn from a full wound bobbin to a fresh empty bobbin canbe carried out smoothly without interrupting the windup of the yarn.

Another object of this invention is to provide a reliable yarn transfermethod wherein in carrying out the transfer of the yarn there is nowaste at all of the yarn and further the yarn package is not deformed inthe least until completion of the yarn transfer.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a yarn transfermethod which can be applied readily to the conventional windup apparatusand by which the yarn transfer necessary during the winding up of a yarncan be automated.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of anapparatus by which the hereinbefore described method is carried out.

These objects are achieved by a yarn transfer method carried out in thewindup step which is characterized by driving simultaneously a windupbobbin and an empty bobbin, hooking the yarn being wound with atraveling guide at a point between the yarn feed source and a fixedguide disposed upstream of the windup bobbin presently being wound whenthe latter has become full, conducting the thus hooked yarn to an end ofthe empty bobbin, severing the yarn by effecting the seizure of the yarnby means of a yarn catch provided at said end, thereby effecting thetransfer of the yarn from the full wound bobbin to the empty bobbin.

The present invention comprehends as the windup drum not only a windupdrum which is not axially mounted, but is merely held between otherrollers, but also the ordinary bobbins which rotate by being axiallymounted. However, in either case it is necessary that they wind up ayarn by their rotation at a surface speed corresponding to the yarnforwarding speed. This drive system may be either a surface drive systemor a spindle drive system, and in the case of the former this drivesystem includes not only the instance where the bobbin being wound upand the empty bobbin are disposed radially of a single drive roll, butalso the instance where the bobbin being wound up and the empty bobbinare juxtaposed axially of the drive roll, and the instance where thebobbin being wound up and the empty bobbin are respectively driven by aplurality of drive rolls.

However, in order to automate the entire yarn transfer operation of thisinvention, these bobbins are desirably driven by a surface drive system,and by so doing there is an advantage in fitting and removing of thefully wound bobbin and the empty bobbin. And the yarn feed source asdefined in this invention contains the entire forwarding structure suchas yarn delivery rollers and forwarding guides.

For carrying out the transfer operation smoothly, it is preferred inthis invention that the traveling guide be attached to a loop-shapedflexible member which is rotatable in the desired direction. In order toguide the yarn to the end of an empty bobbin by hooking the yarn withthe traveling guide between the yarn feed source and a fixed guidedisposed upstream of the windup bobbin, it is preferred that thetraveling guide attached to the flexible member be caused to hook theyarn by traveling across the path that the yarn takes when it is beingnormally wound up and then moved so that the transfer distance isshortened as much as possible to guide the yarn to the end of the emptybobbin.

Further, the foregoing fixed guide can be provided between the yarn feedsource and the windup mechanism, in the normal yarn guide plane (theplane including the yarn path during the normal windup, i.e. when theyarn transfer operation is not being carried out), and it need notnecessarily function as a guide during the normal windup operation. Theessential point is that it suffices if it functions as a fixed guide forguiding the yarn during the period from the start of the transferoperation to the completion thereof.

The foregoing normal yarn guide plane and the moving plane of thetraveling guide either (I) intersect at a certain angle at the placewhere the traveling guide hooks the yarn. i.e., at a place intermediateof the yarn feed source and the fixed guide; (2) are identical; or (3)are proximate and parallel to each other. On the other hand, the movingplane of the traveling guide must be adjusted such that the yarn pathbetween the yarn feed source and the travelling traveling guide is in aposition such as to at least contact the end of the empty bobbin towhich the yarn is to be transferred or in a position very close to thisposition. The former relative position of the moving plane is bestemployed when the yarn is fine, whereas the latter is used when the yarnis thick. For instance, in the latter case, the yarn is caused tocontact the end of the empty bobbin by means of a yarn presser andsevering means, and the yarn caught in the yarn catch provided in theend of the windup bobbin is severed by said severing means.

When the relative positions of the normal yarn guide plane and themoving plane of the traveling guide are in the relation indicated in thepreceeding paragraph under item (I), it is possible to make said anglelarge, and thus prevent the contact of the traveling guide with the yarnguide plane at places other than said intersecting portion. 0n the otherhand, when said angle is small and the relative positions are asindicated under items (2) and (3), it si is preferred to prevent thetraveling guide from making contact with the normal yarn path at placesother than the intersecting portion when it comes near to the yarn path,by moving the fixed guide to-and-fro with respect to the yarn guideplane or by pushing out the yarn path by means of, say, a suitable meanssuch as pushout guide, and it being particularly preferred that thesemoving positions of the traveling guide.

Further, according to the invention, other fixed guides besides thepreviously mentioned fixed guide can be provided, it being possible tocontrol the yarn path more closely by providing another fixed guide inthe yarn path between the yarn feed source and the traveling guide orbetween the travel ing guide and the previously mentioned yarn guide. Byso doing, it is possible to control the yarn paths passing the travelingguide and let only one yarn path approach the edge of the empty bobbin.All or part ofthese fixed or pushout guides are preferably movedto-and-fro with respect to the yarn guide plane, the movements beingcooperatively effected in accordance with moving positions of thetraveling guide. The yarn transfer operation can thus be carried outstill more smoothly.

For a better understanding of this invention, reference is made toaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a schematic drawing illustrating the application of thetransfer method of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view showing one embodiment of the present invention,the locus of the yarn resulting from the movement of the traveling guidebeing illustrated;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are front views of an embodiment having a similararrangement to that shown in FIG. 2 and are for illustrating the changesin the yarn path which occur in concomitance with the movement of thetraveling guide;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are side and front views, respectively, illustrating therelationship between the windup bobbin and the yarn presser and severingmeans which can be used as an accessory in the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a front view showing another embodiment of the inventioninvolving dual windup means;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the embodiment as shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 illustrates the changes in the yarn path that takes place inconcomitance with movement of the traveling guide in the embodimentshown in FIGS. 6 and 7;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are front and side views, respectively, illustratinganother embodiment of the dual method of windup to which the presentinvention has been applied:

FIGS. 11A to 11D are diagrams illustrating the yarn transfer operationin the arrangement shown in FIGS. 9 and 10;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are front and side views, respectively, of still anotherembodiment of the invention in which two fixed guides are used whichcooperatively move with the movement of the traveling guide;

FIGS. 14A and 14B are diagrams illustrating the movements of thetraveling guide and the fixed guides in the arrangement shown in FIGS.12 and 13.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating the operational sequence of means suchas a timer which is used as an accessory in the invention;

FIG. 16 is a schematic circuit diagram of a control circuit for theembodiment of FIGS. 9 and I0; and

FIG. 17 is an illustration of a mechanism for transferring the bobbinsin the embodiment of FIGS. I2 and 13.

The embodiments of the invention will be described hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. I is a schematic view illustrating an instance of the applicationof the transfer method of the present invention in winding up a yarn.Yarn y delivered from yarn feed source 5, after passing neighborhood offixed guide 4, is wound up as yarn layer Y onto windup bobbin 2 which issurface driven by drive roll 1. Windup bobbin 2 is supported in placeagainst drive roll 1 by a suitable support structure Ia. Support Incomprises two Y-shaped bodies which have small rollers on the endsthereof. The rollers contact and support bobbin 2. Supports 1a aresupported by suitable means such as a spring mounting, to thereby giveas the windup bobbin becomes wound with yarn. Support structure la issimilar to that disclosed in US Pat. No. 3,370,798. Now, when windupbobbin 2 becomes almost full, an empty bobbin 3, supported .in the armsof an empty bobbin holder 3a and held in contact with drive roll 1,starts its preparatory rotation. Then a traveling guide ll hooks yarn yintermediate of the yarn feed source 5 and fixed guide 4 and startstraveling in the direction ofthe arrow. Traveling guide 11 is preferablyprovided on a flexible member 12, for example, a chain or belt, thelatter being loopshaped and mounted about pulleys l3 and driven by motorM, and which determines the direction in which the traveling guideproceeds. When the traveling guide proceeds to the bottom, yarn y isguided to the end of empty bobbin 3 where, by coming into contact with ayarn catch provided in the end of the bobbin, it is severed andtransferred to the fresh bobbin 3. Thereafter, the filled bobbin 2 isremoved by automatic means, not shown. The fresh bobbin 3 is loweredinto the position formerly operated by full bobbin 2 by rotating holder3a around shaft 3b. The fresh bobbin 3 moves off the arms of the holder3a and holder 3a is returned to its initial position, ready to receivethe next fresh bobbin. This cycle is continuously repeated.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are side and front views, respectively, of an arrangementof one embodiment of the invention. In the FIGS., yarn y delivered fromyarn feed source 5, after passing through delivery guide 6 and traversedby means of traverse guide 8 of traverse mechanism 7, is wound up asyarn layer Y onto windup bobbin 2, which is surface driven by driveroll 1. Drive roll 1 also simultaneously drives an empty bobbin 3.Traveling guide 11 is mounted on a flexible member 12 which iscontrolled by means of guides and drive pulley 13 as to the path overwhich it proceeds. The path of flexible member l2, i.e., the path overwhich traveling guide 11 proceeds, has a bent configuration such thatthe locus of yarn y, i.e., the plane through which the yarn is traversedduring normal windup, is traveled across and moreover is such that theyarn booked by traveling guide 11 is guided to the end of empty bobbin 3that is being driven. The setup is such that, while as seen from thefront, the locus of the traveling guide 1I resulting from the movementof the loop-shaped flexible member appears to intersect the locus ofyarn y, at points A and B, the plane of the locus of the traveling guide11 is at an angle 9 to the locus of yarn y, which causes traveling guideII to hook yarn v at B but not at A, This is clearly seen in FIG. 2,where the normal yarn guide plane of yarn y and them the moving plane 3of the traveling guide intersect at point B at angle 9. On the otherhand, fixed guide 4 is disposed in a relative position such that thenormal yarn locus of yarn y does not pass through fixed guide 4.

Now, when windup bobbin 2 becomes full, timer means, describedhereinafter, is actuated to drive the flexible member driving motor M,and traveling guide 11 in the position shown in FIG. 3 being moved byflexible member 12 travels in the direction of the arrow and hooks yarny at point B. When traveling guide 11 travels and comes to point I ofFIG. 4, the yarn path becomes i y,. At this time, the yarn from the yarnfeed source by passing via the delivery guide, moving guide, fixed guide4 and traverse guide in the sequence given is wound up on windup bobbin2. The traveling guide proceeds to travel about in the direction of thearrow, passing point II (the yarn path becomes y at this time) andthence arrives at point III (the yarn path becomes ya at this time).Since the yarn path (eg. y,, y and y passes through the several guidesin the foregoing order during the time the yarn shifts its positionwhile being held by traveling guide 11, the yarn at all times passesthrough the fixed guide and is thereafter traversed by the traverseguide. Hence, no abnormalities in the traversing of the yarn ofdeficiencies in the form of the yarn package occur during the period inwhich these operations are carried out.

Next, the method of severing the yarn and winding the severed end ontoan empty bobbin will be described. When traveling guide II arrives atposition III in FIG. 4, the yarn path becomes y; as shown in FIGS. 2 and4. At this position, the yarn comes into contact with the end of emptybobbin 3 and slips into incised portion 35 (see FIG. 5) in the end ofthe bobbin where it is severed by the resulting shock. Then while itsend is being held in the incised portion, the yarn gets wound onto thefresh empty bobbin. Thus the windup on the fresh bobbin is carried out.

When the yarn is thick, instead of doing as hereinabove described, ayarn presser and serving mechanism, as shown in FIG. 5, can be used. Inthis case, traveling guide 11 is brought to a stop at a place close toposition III in FIG. 4, i.e., at a place where the yarn comes very close(y to the end of the empty bobbin. Now, when a sing signal enters rotarysolenoid 38 at this time from an actuating means described hereinafter,such as a limit switch such as 44 or 44' of FIGS. 6-8, shaft 38 isrotated to swing knife 37 in a horizontal plane. This knife ishooked-shaped, for instance, and is provided with an edge and only itstip. Accordingly, as seen in FIGS. 5A and 5B, when the knife 37 is madeto swing horizontally by the rotary solenoid 38, yarn y l is urgedagainst the end of bobbin 3 by means of a nonedged portion 37 of theknife 37. As thebobbin 3 rotates, the yarn y;,] is pushed into recess 35and is rotated in the direction of the rotation of the bobbin 3. Theyarn in this state is shown by reference y 2. The displaced yarn y 2 iscaused by its rotation to be pressed against the edge portion of theknife 37 and is severed and then forced into slot 36 whereby it is heldby the bobbin.

The yarn which has been-thus wound onto a fresh windup bobbin 3automatically returns to the center by means of the tension of the yarnand is hooked by traverse guide 8 into which the yarn automaticallyslips, no matter from what direction it comes so as to be traversednormally while the windup of the yarn continues.

FIGS. 6 to 8 illustrate the application of the present invention to thedual windup method, a method in which two windup bobbins are arrangedalong side each other. In FIGS. 6 and 7, yarn yis delivered by means ofyarn delivery roll 5 and is wound up as a yarn layer Y onto windupbobbin 2 while being traversed by means of traverse guide 8 of traversedevice 7 via fixed guide 4. When windup bobbin 2 becomes full, an emptybobbin 3 fitted on a supporting mechanism 32 provided symmetrically ofwindup bobbin 2 is pressed against-the drive roll 1 and driven bysurface drive (see FIG. 7).

On the other hand, the flexible member 12 equipped with traveling guide11, when seen from the front, is provided in a loop shape as shown inFIG. 6, whereas, when seen from the side, is provided so that the movingplane of the traveling guide is a plane g as shown in FIG. 7.

When empty bobbin 3 starts to be driven, flexible member 12 starts totravel around in its circuit and traveling guide 11 which was at theposition shown in FIG. 6 starts to travel in the direction of the arrow.At this time when windup bobbin 2 on the left is full, flexible member12 proceeds to go around in the clockwise direction, but when windupbobbin 3 on the right is full, it goes around in the counterclockwisedirection. Then when traveling guide 11 contacts limit switch 41, anormally retracted pushout guide 9 Iunges forward by means of the agencyof a solenoid 21 and shoves the yarn y forward. Since moving guide 11passes below this yarn, yarn y is not hooked by the traveling guide atthis point. Then when traveling guide 11 contacts limit switch 42, thesolenoid is deenergized and pushout guide 9 retracts to return yarn y toits former position. Traveling guide 11 continues its travel andcontacts limit switch 43 (no action takes place here when the travelingguide is moving clockwise), after which yarn y is hooked by travelingguide 11 between delivery roll 5 and fixed guide 4 and then thetraveling guide arrives at point I in FIG. 8. At this point, travelingguide 11 contacts limit switch 43 which operates electromagneticsolenoid 22 whereby another normally extended fixed guide 4' is made torecede. The path of the yarn at this time is indicated by y,, it passingfrom the delivery roll to traverse guide 8 via the traveling guide andfixed guide 4. When traveling guide 11 proceeds with the course of theyarn in this state and arrives at point II in FIG. 8 where it contactslimit switch 42 to move it in one direction,

fixed guide 4', which has been in a retracted position, reverts to itsformer position. The state of the yarn path at this time is shown byy.;, only the upper one of the two yarn paths I hooked by travelingguide 11 passing through fixed guide 4'. Traveling guide 11 continues toproceed in this state and contacts limit switch 41, but without anyaction taking place when the traveling guide is moving clockwise andarrives at point IV in FIG. 8. At this point, the yarn path is indicatedby y;,, the yarn passing from the roll to the traverse guide via fixedguide 4'. traveling guide 11 and fixed guide 4, in the order given. Whenthe traveling guide is transferred to below point IV, the yarn comesinto contact with the end of empty bobbin 3 where it is severed by theincised portion provided in the end of the bobbin and simultaneouslybecomes wound onto the bobbin, the

transferred yarn y automatically slipping into traverse guide 8' bywhich it is traversed normally and wound up onto the bobbin.

When the yarn is thick, traveling guide 11 stops at points IV by theaction of limit switch 44 disposed at this point, and the yarn issevered by the knife illustrated in FIG. 5 and transferred to the freshwindup bobbin 3.

FIGS. 9-11 illustrate another embodiment of the invention using the dualwindup method. In FIGS. 9 and I0, yarn y delivered from the yarn feedsource is wound up via delivery guide 6 while being traversed by meansof rotary traverse roll 7, the actions during the normal windup beingidentical to that of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6-8. When windupbobbin 2 becomes full, an empty bobbin 3 starts to rotate by coming intocontact with drive roll I. At this time, traveling guide 11, which wasstopped at the position of limit switch 45, starts moving in thedirection of the arrow as a result of the movement of flexible member12. The contact with limit switch 44 produces no control action. Whentraveling guide 11 contacts limit switch 41 and actuates, it, yarnpushout guide 9 is pushed forward by means of solenoid 2]. Inconsequence, yarn y is pushed upwardly and traveling guide 11 passesthereunder. This state is shown in FIG. 11A. Next, when traveling guideI I actuates limit switch 42, the pushout guide9 recedes to its formerposition; and (2) the frame (not shown) which supports yarn deliveryguide 6 shifts to point 6 in FIG. 9. At this time, the yarn path, asshown by the dotted line in FIG. I [8, follows the sequence of yarndelivery guide, guide 4 and rotary traverse roller 7. Traveling guide11, upon continuing its travel, intersects the yarn path between yarndelivery guide 6 and guide 4, where it hooks the yarn and arrives at theposition shown in FIG. 11B. When the yarn guide 11 actuates limit switch43, no control action occurs. When it actuates limit switch 43, fixedguide 4' is drawn back by means of solenoid for yarn guide 4. Thetraveling yarn guide next actuates limit switch 42 which deenergizes thesolenoid for yarn guide 4' and it returns to its forward position.Actuation of limit switch 41 causes no control action. When travelingguide 11 moves to the point indicated in FIG. 11C, the yarn path followsthe sequence of yarn delivery guide 6, fixed guide 10, traveling guide11, guide 4 and the rotary traverse roller 7. When traveling guide 11proceeds still further from the state shown in FIG. 11C, the yarncontacts the end of empty bobbin 3, becomes caught in the incisedportion or yarn catch to be severed and wound on the fresh bobbin 3.This state is shown in FIG. 11D. The yarn transferred to fresh bobbin 3passing through guide 10' is wound up onto windup bobbin 3 directlybelow guide 10'. It is necessary for the windup bobbin to be so disposedthat its ends are located inwardly of the guides 10 and 10'. When theyarn is thick, the traveling guide stops at the position shown in FIG.11C and the yarn is transferred to the fresh windup bobbin 3 by themeans described in connection with FIG. 5. The aforesaid guides 10 and10' control the yarn path still more closely to ensure that the yarn inthe path between yarn delivery guide 6 and traveling guide 11 is notsevered by becoming caught in the stringing up opening 60' of the rotarytraverse 7.

By the use of another guide 10 such as this, there is the furtheradvantage that the transfer tail can be formed on the bobbin withoutfail. Considefifi difficulty is experienced in picking up this transfertail by the ordinary yarn transferring method or yarn stringing upmethod. However, by employing the present embodiment, this operation canbe carried out automatically.

When traveling guide 11 then proceeds further around its circuit andcontacts limit switches 44' and 45, solenoid 23 is actuated to retractguide or 10, with the consequence that yarn y is disengaged from guide10 or 10 and gets caught in the yarn stringing up opening 60 or 60' tobe traversed normally. On the other hand, the traveling guide stops atthis point.

A circuit diagram for the circuit for driving the flexible member 12 ofFIGS. 9 and 10 is shown in FIG. 16. All relay switches are shown intheir normal position, i.e. the position to which they move when thecorresponding relay coil is deenergized. The description of the circuitand its operation will be started with the apparatus set to wind yarn ona bobbin in the lefthand portion of the apparatus of FIG. 9. The circuitis connected across lines from a power source (not shown). The switchRR, between lines 37 and 38 of circuit is in the upper position so thatrelay coil 24 is energized and relay coil 25 is deenergized, and relayswitch 24 in line 3 is closed and relay switch 25 in line 5 of thecircuit is open. Switch RR, between lines 34 and 35 is also in thelowered position so that relay coil 14 is deenergized, thus openingrelay switches 14 in lines 13, 28, and 32 of the circuit, while relaycoil in line 35 is energized and relay switches 15 in lines 14, 26 and30 of the circuit are closed.

Timer T, in line 1 is actuated by pushing switch SW, in line 2 to'theclosed position. This energizes relay coil 4 in line 2 and closes relayswitch 4 in line 1 so as to energize the timer T,. Relay coil 4 alsocloses relay switches 4 in lines 4 and 6 for the purpose of holdingrelay 4 energized. It also closes relay switch 4 in line 36 andenergizes relay coil RR in order to switch relay switch RR, of lines 37and 38 to the lower position. This deenergizes relay coil 24 andenergizes relay coil 25, which in turn allows relay switch 24 in line 3to open, and causes relay switch 25 in line 5 to close, thus holdingrelay coil 4 energized.

After the time set on the timer T, has passed, a timer contact T, inline 13 is closed, thus completing a circuit through closed relay switch15, whereby relay coil 3 is energized and relay switches 3 in lines 15and 57 are closed. Relay switch 3 in line 15 is a holding switch forholding the relay coil 3 energized, and relay switch 3 in line 57energizes the motor M in line 56 for driving the flexible member 12clockwise in FIG. 9.

The traveling guide 11 on flexible member 12 first engages andmomentarily closes limit switch 44, which temporarily energizes relaycoil 16 and in line 7 to close relay switch 16 in line 16. Thisenergizes relay coil 5, which in turn closes relay switch 5 in line 17.However, since relay switch 17 in line 17 is open, because relay coil 17in line 8 is not energized, no control action occurs.

The traveling guide 11 next momentarily closes limit switch 41 andenergizes relay coil 20 in line 22 which in turn closes relay switch 20in line 26. Since relay switch 15 is closed, relay coil 10 is energizedto close relay switch 10 in line 27 for holding relay coil 10, and relayswitch 10 in line 58 for actuating solenoid 21. Solenoid 21 moves guide9 forward, thus moving the yarn forward. The traveling guide 11 nextstrikes and momentarily closes limit switch 42, which energizes relaycoil 22 in line 24. This opens normally closed relay switches 22 in line27 and line 33 so that relay coil 10 is deenergized due to theinterruption of the holding circuit. As a result, the solenoid 21 isdeenergized and yarn guide 9 is drawn back to its original position.During this time the solenoid 22 for yarn guide 4 is not actuated.

Traveling guide 11 next strikes limit switch 43, in line 32 but norelays are energized because relay switch 14 in line 32, which is in thecircuit with limit switch 43 and relay coil 13, is open.

Traveling guide 11 next strikes and momentarily closes limit switch 43,thus energizing relay coil 12 in line 30. relay switch 15 being closed.Relay coil 12 closes relay switches 12 in line 31 and 60, the relayswitch 12 in line 31 completing a holding circuit for relay coil 12 andthe relay switch 12 in line 60 energizing solenoid 22' to draw yarnguide 4' back. The traveling guide 11 next momentarily strikes andcloses limit switch 42'", energizing relay coil 23 in line 25, which inturn opens normally closed relay switch 23 in lines 29 and 31. thusbreaking the holding circuit for relay coil 12. When relay switch 12 inline 60 is opened, solenoid 22' is deenergized and yarn guide 4 isreturned to its forward position.

Traveling guide 11 next strikes and momentarily closes limit switch 41and energizes relay coil 21 of line 23. This closes relay switch 21 inline 28, but because switch 14 is open, relay coil 11 is not energized.

The traveling guide 11 next strikes and momentarily closes limit switch44 energizing relay coil 17 in line 8 for opening normally closed relayswitch 17 in line 6 and closing relay switches 17 in lines 17 and 19.Opening of relay switch 17 in line 6 breaks the holding circuit to relaycoil 4, thus deenergizing it so that normally closed switch 4 in line36, which has been held open by relay coil 4, is allowed to close, thusenergizing relay coil RR in line 36 so as to permit switch RR- betweenlines 37 and 38 to move to the upper position. This energizes relay coil24 and deenergizes relay coil 25. As a result, the timers T, and relay Tare reset. At the same time, since relay coil 5 in line 16 is stillenergized and relay switch 5 in line 17 is still closed, relay coil 6 isenergized, closing relay switch 6 in line 51 to energize solenoids 23'and 38. The guide 10 is drawn backward and the knife 37 is operated onecycle to cut the yarn. Traveling guide 11 finally strikes andmomentarily closes limit switch 45' and energizes relay coil 19 in line10. This closes normally open relay switch 19 in line 3 and opensnormally closed relay switch 19 in line 16. Since the relay coil 24 inline 37 is now energized, relay, switch 24 in line 3 is closed and therelay coil 4 of line 2 is energized. The timer T, is thus actuated andbegins to run. Three seconds later, Three seconds later, delay relay Tis actuated and changes switch RR, so that relay coil 14 in line 34 isenergized and relay coil 15 in line 15 is deenergized. The opening ofrelay switch 19 in line 16 deenergizes relays 2, 3, 5,6,8 and 9 due tothe interruption of the holding circuits therefor.

After a lapse of time necessary for the bobbin on the right hand side ofthe machine to be filled, the timer contact T, is closed, and sincerelay coil 14 in line 34 is energized to close relay switch 14 in line13, relay coil 2 is energized, closing relay switch 2 of line 14 andrelay switch 2 in line 55. This causes motor M to rotate in the oppositedirection to drive the flexible member 12 in the opposite direction. Thetraveling guide 11 strikes the limit switches in the opposite sequence,and the various relays, etc. are closed in reverse sequence, thusoperating the yarn guides and knife 38 so as to transfer the yarn backto the bobbin on the left hand side of the apparatus. In this operation,the limit switches which were inactive during the transfer from left toright will be active due to switches 14 being closed, and thecorresponding limit switches will be inactive due to switches 15 beingopen.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this circuit can,by the omission of appropriate switches and relays, be adapted tocontrol the less complicated embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 and 68.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate another embodiment of the invention. In thisembodiment, the present invention has been applied to a winderconventionally employed hitherto in the spinning and winding up ofsynthetic fibers, the application having been made without requiringmajor alterations in the essential part of said winder. It comprisesprovidingin the yarn guide device a traveling guide provided on aloop-shaped flexible member and a fixed guide in the plane through whichthe yarn is conducted from the delivery roll to the windup bobbin and bycausing said fixed guide to make to-and-fro sliding movements withrespect to the moving plane of the traveling guide to permit the yarnbeing delivered to take an optional course.

In FIGS. 12 and 13, reference numeral 1 indicates the drive roller; 3,the empty bobbin which has been readied for winding the yarn; 2, thewindup bobbin being wound; 52, the fixed guide attaching plate; 4 and51, the guides attached to attaching plate 52; 22, the device for movingthe attaching plate; 7, the traverse mechanism; 8, the traverse guidefitted to the traverse mechanism; 11, the traveling guide; 12, theloopshaped flexible member such as a chain or belt; 13, the guide anddrive pulleys for effecting the travel of flexible member 12; 41, 42,43, 44, the limit switches; 21 and 22, the solenoids; 9, the pushoutguide; and 6, the yarn delivery guide.

Normally when yarn y is being wound up on windup bobbin 2, the yarnwhich proceeds via guide 6 is wound up on bobbin 2 via traverse guide 8fitted to the traverse mechanism 7. (See yarn indicated by the solidline in FIG. 12; as regards the relationship between the guides andyarn, see FIG. 14A).

Now, when windup bobbin 2 has become wound up with the required amountof yarn y, the motor (not shown) which drives the yarn transferapparatus is started up as a result of the displacement of the windupbobbin supporting mechanism.

Traveling guide 11 fitted to flexible member 12 (usually a chain)travels in the direction of arrow E, and after hooking yarn yat point D,proceeds downwardly in the direction of arrow F. The yarn path becomesas shown with the dot-anddash line in FIG. 12.

If fixed guides 4 and 51 project beyond the plane of travel of the yarnwhen the traveling guide is traveling, the yarn being shifted bytraveling guide 11 is hooked by the foregoing fixed guides 4 and 51,with the consequence that the yarn path shown with the dot-and-dash linein FIG. 12 does not result. However, the present embodiment haseffectively solved this defect.

As traveling guide 11 starts traveling around its course, it contactslimit switch 43, thereby actuating solenoid 21 of FIG. 13 to shove outyarn pushout guide 9. Traveling guide 11 passes under this yarn pushoutguide 9 and thus below yarn y. Next, as limit switch 41 is operated andyarn pushout guide 9 is retracted, simultaneously solenoid 22 isactuated and plate 52 equipped with the two fixed guides 4 and 51 lungesforward from its normal position. At this time, yarn y conveyed bytraveling guide 11, being hooked thereon is hooked by guide 4 and thenguide 51 which have leaped forward before the yarn. Next, when travelingguide 11 arrives at the point where a yarn path shown in FIG. 14B isformed, since limit switch 42 is operated to deenergize 22, the guide 4and 51 retract with the yarn being still hooked by these guides.

Thus, only the yarn whichproceeds towards windup bobbin 2 passes throughguides 4 and 51, while the yarn that comes to traveling guide 11 fromdelivery guide 6 does not get hooked by guides 4 and S1. The yarn pathhereafter follows the sequence of delivery guide 6, traveling guide 11,guide 51, guide 4 and traverse guide 8.

When traveling guide 11 arrives at the point shown in FIG. 12, the yarndelivered from delivery roller or the spinning machine (both not shown)gets caught in the incised portion provided in the end of empty bobbin3, which has already been given preparatory rotation to become severedby the inertia of the bobbin and transferred to the fresh windup bobbin3. Traveling guide 11 still continues its travel until it stops at thepoint where limit switch 44 is operated.

When the yarn is thick in this case. the chain is stopped once beforethe yarn gets caught by empty bobbin 3 and the transfer of the yarn isaccomplished by the yarn being severed by the action of the yarn presserand severing means shown in FIG. while it simultaneously gets wound onempty bobbin 3.

Full bobbin 2 may be replaced with a new bobbin 3 in any conventionalmanner. One structure for carrying out this operation is shown in FIG.17. Bobbins 2 and 3 may be mounted by suitable arms on a structure, forinstance of a triangular configuration, 100. Triangle 100 is revolvablymounted around a center BHinT thereof 101. As bobbin 2 becomes full ofyarn, the yarn is transferred to new bobbin 3 in the manner abovedescribed. When this transfer is completed, triangle may be rotated in aclockwise manner by l20. This will, of course, bring new bobbin 3 intothe position formerly occupied by bobbin 2. Bobbin 2, on the other hand,will be moved to the position indicated by the dash lines in FIG. 17. Atthis point, it will be apparent that bobbin 2 may be removed andreplaced by a further new empty bobbin. This operation is continued asthe windup bobbins rotatively become full of yarn.

The roll of the guides 4 and 51 will be described. Guide 4 is forcontrolling the yarn to be wound up on the bobbin to ensure that theyarn is positioned centrally. On the other hand, the role of the otherguide 51 is to keep separate the two lengths of yarn i.e., to hook onlythe yarn coming from above when stringing the yarn up to empty bobbin 3and to ensure that the yarn which returns to guide 4 via traveling guide11 does not get caught on the end of empty bobbin 2.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the sequence of action of the timer andlimit switches. The hereinbefore described yarn hooking operations arecarried out in accordance with this diagram. Referring to FIG. 15,starting of the motor moves the traveling guide until it strikes thelimit switch 43, which energizes solenoid 21 so as to push the guide 9out. The continued movement of the traveling yarn guide next actuateslimit switch 41 to deenergize solenoid 21, thus retracting yarn guide 9,and at the same time energizes solenoid 22 to move yarn guides 4 and 51out. Continued movement of the traveling yarn guide next actuates limitswitch 42, which deenergizes solenoid 22 and causes withdrawal of guides4 and 51 to their original positions. Continued movement then actuateslimit switch 44 to stop the drive motor for the flexible member, andstart a timer which turns the motor on when the bobbin is full.

For effecting the travel of the traveling guide in the hereinbeforedescribed embodiments, the movement is accomplished by means of aflexible member such as a chain or belt. However, the present inventionis not limited to such instances only, but the movement can be carriedout by a rectilinear motion by means such as hydraulic cylinder or acurvilinear motion by the provision of the former with linkages.

Further, the transfer method of the present invention can also bepracticed by merely combining the fixed and traveling guides in the yarnwindup operation in specific relative positions. Further, automation canreadily be carried out by employing a power source, such as hydraulic,pneumatic or electric, for driving the traveling guide. In addition, theapparatus has the advantages that it can be readily attached to theconventional winders and that the appearance of the yarn package duringyarn transfer differs not a whit from that during the conventionalwindup operation.

In the explanation of the examples, all the drive systems for a winduproll were surface drive systems; however, it should be borne in mindthat upon practicing this invention, these can be replaced by otherdrive systems, for instance, a spindle drive system is also possible.

We claim:

1. A method of continuously winding yarn, comprising the steps ofguiding the yarn from a source thereof toward a windup bobbin position,winding the guided yarn on a windup bobbin at said position whiletraversing the yarn along the bobbin and simultaneously driving thewindup bobbin and an empty bobbin, and when the windup bobbin has becomefull, engaging the yarn at a point between the yarn source and the pointat which it is guided and drawing it tranversely of the direction of itsmovement and then across the end of the driven empty bobbin, guiding theyarn at additional points spaced from said first mentioned point fordividing the paths along which the yarn moves so that only a singlelength of the yarn approaches the end of the empty bobbin, and thenengaging the yarn by the driven empty bobbin and severing the yarn,whereby the severed end of the yarn coming from the yarn source isengaged with and wound up on the empty bobbin,

ill

and the severed end of the yar riextending to the fully wound up bobbinis wound onto the fully wound up bobbin.

2. The method as claimed in I claim 1 further comprising the step ofshifting the yarn laterally of the path along which it normally runsbetween the yarn source and the windup bobbin for passing an engagingand drawing means for carrying out the engaging and drawing step pastsaid yarn where it is desired not to engage and draw said yarn.

3. A yarn windup apparatus comprising means for rotatably supporting aplurality of windup bobbins, bobbins having yarn catching means on theends thereof and supported in said supporting means, at least onetraverse guide for guiding yarn back and forth along at least one bobbinin said bobbin sup porting means, at least one yarn guide for guidingsaid yarn from a source of yarn to said traversing means, a travelingyarn guide, a flexible member extending in a loop and on which saidtraveling yarn guide is mounted, and drive means coupled to saidflexible member for driving said flexible member, said flexible memberextending in a path which crosses the path of the yarn coming to thesaid guide from the said yarn source transversely thereof and whichextends past and adjacent the ends of the bobbins having the yarncatching means thereon, whereby when the flexible member is driven, thetraveling yarn guide engages the yarn and draws it transversely and thenpast the end of an empty bobbin in the yarn su porting means, and whenthe bobbins are rotatably driven, the yarn is picked up by an emptybobbin.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 and further comprising at leastone drive roll engaged with said bobbins and simultaneously surfacedriving said bobbins.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which the said yarn guide andtraverse guide cooperate to guide the yarn in one plane and the flexiblemember lies in a second plane, said planes being at an angle to eachother and intersecting adjacent said point where said traveling yarnguide engages the yarn, whereby the traveling yarn guide will not engagethe yarn at any other points.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further comprising at least onemovable yarn guide, and moving means on which said movable yarn guide ismounted, said moving means and movable yarn guide being mounted adjacentthe path of said yarn and movable laterally of the path of said yarn andengageable with said yarn o for moving the yarn out of the path of thetraveling yarn guide on said flexible member for permitting thetraveling yarn guide to pass the yarn without engaging it.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a yarn pressingand severing device adjacent the end of at least one empty bobbin insaid bobbin supporting means and adjacent and movable into the path ofthe yarn drawn adjacent the end of the bobbin by said traveling yarnguide and movable to engage the yarn to move it into engagement with theyarn catching means on the empty bobbin and to sever the yarn.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said bobbin supportingmeans supports two bobbins one at a higher level than the other and onan axis parallel to the other, the lower being the windup bobbin and theupper being an empty bobbin in position to become a windup bobbin, andsaid yarn guide is a single fixed yarn guide.

9. An apparatus as claimed in' claim 3 in which said bobbin supportingmeans supports two bobbins side by side on the same axis and there aretwo yarn guides one above each bobbin, yarn guide moving means on whicheach of said yarn guides is mounted for moving said yarn guidestransversely of the plane of the yarn, said flexible member extending ina closed loop above the bobbins and s downwardly between the bobbins,and actuating means coupled to said yarn guide moving means andpositioned adjacent said flexible member and engaged by said travelingyarn guide for moving said yarn guides to permit said traveling yarnguide to move past said yarn without engaging it, and said flexiblemember drive means being reversible for driving said flexible member ineither direction around said loop.

10 An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said bobbin supportingmeans supports two bobbins on parallel axes. and said yarn guide is afixed yarn guide, and further comprising two further yarn guidespositioned side by side on a line generally parallel to the axis of thebobbins with at least one of the further yarn guides lying outside theends of the bobbins. said flexible member extending in a path above thefurther yarn guides past the said at least one yarn guide and thendownwardly past the end of the empty bobbin, further yarn guide movingmeans on which said further yarn guides are mounted and moving saidfurther yarn guides transversely of the path along which said flexiblemember extends above said further yarn guides, and actuating meanscoupled to said further yarn guide moving means and positioned adjacentsaid flexible member and engaged by said traveling yarn guide for movinga said further yarn guides to permit the traveling yarn guide to movepast the yarn without engaging it.

1. A method of continuously winding yarn, comprising the steps ofguiding the yarn from a source thereof toward a windup bobbin position,winding the guided yarn on a windup bobbin at said position whiletraversing the yarn along the bobbin and simultaneously driving thewindup bobbin and an empty bobbin, and when the windup bobbin has becomefull, engaging the yarn at a point between the yarn source and the pointat which it is guided and drawing it tranversely of the direction of itsmovement and then across the end of the driven empty bobbin, guiding theyarn at additional points spaced from said first mentioned point fordividing the paths along which the yarn moves so that only a singlelength of the yarn approaches the end of the empty bobbin, and thenengaging the yarn by the driven empty bobbin and severing the yarn,whereby the severed end of the yarn coming from the yarn source isengaged with and wound up on the empty bobbin, and the severed end ofthe yarn extending to the fully wound up bobbin is wound onto the fullywound up bobbin.
 2. The method as claimed in l claim 1 furthercomprising the step of shifting the yarn laterally of the path alongwhich it normally runs between the yarn source and the windup bobbin forpassing an engaging and drawing means for carrying out the engaging anddrawing step past said yarn where it is desired not to engage and drawsaid yarn.
 3. A yarn windup apparatus comprising means for rotatablysupporting a plurality of windup bobbins, bobbins having yarn catchingmeans on the ends thereof and supported in said supporting means, atleast one traverse guide for guiding yarn back and forth along at leastone bobbin in said bobbin supporting means, at least one yarn guide forguiding said yarn from a source of yarn to said traversing means, atraveling yarn guide, a flexible member extending in a loop and on whichsaid traveling yarn guide is mounted, and drive means coupled to saidflexible member for driving said flexible member, said flexible memberextending in a path which crosses the path of the yarn coming to thesaid guide from the said yarn source transversely thereof and whichextends past and adjacent the ends of the bobbins having the yarncatching means thereon, whereby when the flexible member is driven, thetraveling yarn guide engages the yarn and draws it transversely and thenpast the end of an empty bobbin in the yarn supporting means, and whenthe bobbins are rotatably driven, the yarn is picked up by an emptybobbin.
 4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 and further comprising atleast one drive roll engaged with said bobbins and simultaneouslysurface driving said bobbins.
 5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 inwhich the said yarn guide and traverse guide cooperate to guide the yarnin one plane and the flexible member lies in a second plane, said planesbeing at an angle to each other and intersecting adjacent said pointwhere said traveling yarn guide engages the yarn, whereby the travelingyarn guide will not engage the yarn at any other points.
 6. An apparatusas claimed in claim 3 further comprising at least one movable yarnguide, and moving means on which said movable yarn guide is mounted,said moving means and movable yarn guide being mounted adjacent the pathof said yarn and movable laterally of the path of said yarn andengageable with said yarn o for moving the yarn out of the path of thetraveling yarn guide on said flexible member for permitting thetraveling yarn guide to pass the yarn without engaging it.
 7. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a yarn pressing andsevering device adjacent the end of at least one empty bobbin in saidbobbin supporting means and adjacent and movable into the path of theyarn drawn adjacent the end of the bobbin by said traveling yarn guideand movable to engage the yarn to move it into engagement with the yarncatching means on the empty bobbin and to sever tHe yarn.
 8. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said bobbin supporting meanssupports two bobbins one at a higher level than the other and on an axisparallel to the other, the lower being the windup bobbin and the upperbeing an empty bobbin in position to become a windup bobbin, and saidyarn guide is a single fixed yarn guide.
 9. An apparatus as claimed inclaim 3 in which said bobbin supporting means supports two bobbins sideby side on the same axis and there are two yarn guides one above eachbobbin, yarn guide moving means on which each of said yarn guides ismounted for moving said yarn guides transversely of the plane of theyarn, said flexible member extending in a closed loop above the bobbinsand s downwardly between the bobbins, and actuating means coupled tosaid yarn guide moving means and positioned adjacent said flexiblemember and engaged by said traveling yarn guide for moving said yarnguides to permit said traveling yarn guide to move past said yarnwithout engaging it, and said flexible member drive means beingreversible for driving said flexible member in either direction aroundsaid loop. 10 An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said bobbinsupporting means supports two bobbins on parallel axes, and said yarnguide is a fixed yarn guide, and further comprising two further yarnguides positioned side by side on a line generally parallel to the axisof the bobbins with at least one of the further yarn guides lyingoutside the ends of the bobbins, said flexible member extending in apath above the further yarn guides past the said at least one yarn guideand then downwardly past the end of the empty bobbin, further yarn guidemoving means on which said further yarn guides are mounted and movingsaid further yarn guides transversely of the path along which saidflexible member extends above said further yarn guides, and actuatingmeans coupled to said further yarn guide moving means and positionedadjacent said flexible member and engaged by said traveling yarn guidefor moving a said further yarn guides to permit the traveling yarn guideto move past the yarn without engaging it.